Multicycle straightening, sizing, and polishing machine



March 30, 1943. w, $|EGER|sT 2,314,953

MULTICYCLE STRAIGHTENING, SIZING, AND POLISHING MACHINE- Filed June 28, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 30, 1943. w. SIEGERIST MULTICYCLE STRAIGHTENING, SIZING, AND POLISHING MACHINE 4 Sheeis-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1940 #16 e rom/ami March 30, 1943. W.-SIEGER|ST MULTICYCLE STRAIGHTENING, S IZING, AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 "\J lll l u ll Ill i v nwwrm; 3 MWSAM Q W Q F 1/15 PYTTQAA/L rs.

March 30, 1943. w. SIEGERIST 2,314,953

MULTICYCLE STRAIGHTENING, SIZING, AND POLISHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28, 1940 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJVII VII Patented Mar. 30, 1943 MULTICYCLE STRAIGHTENING, SIZING, AND POLISHING MACHINE Walter Siegerlst, St. Louis, Mo.

Application June 28, 1940, Serial No. 342,905

2 Claims.

This invention relates to straightening machines and more particularly to straightening machines for articles of circular cross section such as rods or tubes.

It has for its principal objects a machine which will straighten, polish and size rods or tubes passing therethrough. Another object is a straightening machine which has at least two straightening cycles in a single pass of the work which has several sets of feeding or power rolls operated by a single drive and means whereby the drive rolls are synchronized; which has several idling rolls; which has the feeding and idling rolls adapted for a straight line contact with the work piece and which has means for quickly and accurately adjusting the rolls for angularity and for work piece size. A further object is a straightening machine which is of simple and inexpensive construction, eflicient in operation and durable in use.

The invention consists principally in providing two lower power driven rolls, two upper power driven rolls, and two upper idler or straightening rolls alternating with the upper power rolls. The invention further consists in the straightening machine, and in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a straightening machine embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 in Fig, 1,

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-4 in Fig. '1 showing the device for guiding rods or tubes through my straightening machine,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Fi 1,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--6 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a view taken on the line I| in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line 88 in Fig, 6,

Fig. 9 is a view taken on the line 99 in Fig. 1 showing the guide member with a portion thereof in section,

1 ig". 10 is a plan view, with the casing in sec- Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line |3l3 in Fig. 12.

The framework of my straightening machine comprises a base I with legs 2, upwardly extending opposed pillars or columns 3 supported thereby and extending through a heavy plate member 6 on said base, and a top plate 5 mounted on said pillars 3.

The straightening machine is provided with power driven rolls adjacent to the base comprising a front roll FI and a rear roll F2 which are angularly disposed, parallel to each other and preferably in the same horizontal plane. These rolls are similar in construction and are shown as having concave hyperboloidal surfaces. The shape of the rolls and their arrangement is such that the work piece will have a substantially straight line contact therewith. A suitable roll construction for straightening thin wall tubes and for-all cold or hot sizing work is shown in my Patent No. 2,132,976, but other roll shapes may be used. This roll shapeis generated by passing a rotating grinding wheel in front of the roll while the roll is rotated on its own axis, said axis making an angle to the axis of the center of rotation of the grinding wheel. The greater this angle is, the deeper the concavity of the ro l surface will be. The grinding wheel which is passed in front of the roll should be at least as large as the diameter of the largest rod to be rolled by said roll. Other generally concave roll shapes, such as roll shapes generated by arcs of circles and the like may be used for straightening work only, on heavy wall tubes and solid rods and bars but are unsatisfactory for cold sizing and for work on thin wall tubes. The roll shape above described is such that it prevents the forming of rings or depressions on the surfaces of thin wall tubes or other rods or tubes rolled thereby.

Each of these lower rolls is supported by a vertlcal yoke 6 secured to the bottom plate of the machine. The yokes comprise a closed portion or base 6a having upstanding arms or branches 6b which are perforated to receive the bearings of the necks of the rolls FI and F2 disposed between the branches 6b of said yokes 6. A depending vertical stud I that projects centrally from the closed end of each yoke is journaled in a recess in the base plate of the machine. A bolt 8 from the base extends through each yoke and a nut 9 is screwed thereon which seats in a recess in the upper portion of the base. This nut 9 together with the closed end of each yoke abutting against the base plate of the machine prevents bolts are then tightened. By this means, an independent swiveling of each roll to independently regulate its angular position is possible.

Above the lower rolls FI and F2 are four small rolls; a front power driven or feeding roll F3, a bending idler roll Cl, a power driven or feeding roll F4 and a rear bending idler roll C2. These rolls are all of similar construction, preferably having concave hyperboloidal surfaces although other roll shapes may be used. The surfaces of these rolls are generated as are the surfaces of the lower rolls. The small rolls are arranged with their axes substantially parallel and the two upper power rolls F3 and F4 are directly above the two lower rolls FI and F2, respectively, forming passes between said upper and said lower rolls. The shape and arrangement of the upper rolls are also such that the work piece will have a substantially straight line contact therewith when passing through the machine. The two power rolls F3 and F4 overlie the two lower power rolls FI and F2, respectively, while the two bending idler rolls Cl and C2 are arranged in alteration with the upper power rolls, Cl being between the power rolls F3 and F4 and C2 being towards the delivery end of the machine with respect to roll F4.

Each of the upper rolls has its roll necks sup ported in the depending arms or brackets |2a of a yoke l2 which is pivotally supported by a crosshead or platen l3 whose corners are perforated vertically to fit over a pair of opposed pillars or columns 3 so as to be capable of sliding vertically thereon. Each crosshead has bosses H on its upper surface with openings therethrough. Nuts l5 positioned in recesses in said bosses and retained by plates I6 secured to the top of said bosses by bolts l1 provide threaded holes in which are heavy vertical screws I8 mounted on the top plate 5 of the frame to turn without moving endwise. The

upper ends of the screws which work in the top a bevel pinion 24 on a shaft 25 which is provided with a large wheel 26 adapted to be turned by hand. Thus, by turning the hand wheel 26, the yoke l2 may beadjusted vertically to suit work pieces of different diameters.

The yokes l2 supporting the upper rolls comprise besides the depending arms l2a, a base portion- I2b having a circular projection 21 which fits in a circular recess in-the crosshead l3. A bolt 28 extends through the base of the yoke l2 and the crosshead l3 and is held by a nut 29. This nut and the base |2b of the yoke abutting against the crosshead prevent endwise movement of said yoke I! while permitting rotary movement thereof. Arcuate slots 30 through the base of each yoke have clamping bolts 30a extending therethrough which may be loosened to permit angular adjustment of saidyoke and the roll mounted thereon. The rotary movement of the yokes are limited by tlise clamping bolts 30a extending through the arcuate slots 30.

In the drawings is illustrated one form of driving mechanism which may be used for driving the power rolls. The upper and lower feeding rolls are driven by the same source of power which consists of any suitable prime mover as, for instance, an electric motor A. A main drive shaft 3| for rotating the gears in the gear box 32 which operates the upper rolls and for rotating'the gears in the gear box 32a. which operates the lower rolls is operatively connected to the drive shaft 33 of the motor A by means of a suitable belt drive 34, preferably of the plural V-type.

In the gear box 32 for the upper rolls, there are two shafts, 35 and 36, in the lower portion of the gear box and three shafts, 31, 38 and 39, in the upper portion thereof, each shaft being suitably journaled therein and adapted to be simultaneously rotated. Shaft 35 is connected with the main drive shaft 3| and has a bevel ear 35a rigid therewith which meshes with a bevel gear 36a rigid with lower shaft 36, said shaft 36 having another gear 36b rigid therewith which in turn meshes with a gear 31a rigid with upper shaft 31 which is directly above shaft 36 and in a vertical plane therewith; A gear 31b on shaft 31 meshes with a pinion 38a mounted on shaft 38 which meshes with a gear 39a rigid with shaft 39. Shafts 31 and- 39 are operatively connected by universal joints 4!] to shafts 4| driving the upper roll. When the motor is operated, main shaft 3| is rotated turning the gears which rotate shafts 4| rotating the rollsCl and C2.

As illustrated in the drawings, the gear box 32a for thelower rolls is also operatively connected with the main drive shaft 3|. This gear box has four shafts suitably journaled therein. Shaft 42 is connected to the main drive 3| and has a bevel gear 42a rigid therewith which meshes with a bevel gear 43a rigid with shaft 43. A pinion 43b rigid with said shaft 43 meshes with a gear 44a rigid with shaft 44 and a gear 45a rigid with shaft 45. Shafts 44 and 45 are operatively connected by means of universal joints 46 to roll drive shafts 41 which rotates the lower rolls. When the motor is operated, shaft 3| rotates the gears in gear box 320. as well as the gears in gear box 32 which in turn rotate the roll drives 41 thereby turning rolls FI and F2.

Adjacent to the front power rolls F3 and Fl and on each side thereof are adjustable guides which maybe of any suitable type. In the construction illustrated, the guide comprises two plates 48 located in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the pass between the upper and lower rolls and on opposite sides of the work piece 49 and suitable means 50 for adjusting said plates 43 respectively in their planes radially with relation to the work piece. The inner edge of each plate is straight and parallel with the axis of the work piece.

Adjacent to the guides and in substantially the same horizontal plane therewith is a bell mouthed guide member 5|. This guide member is retained in position by a leg. 52 secured to the base plate thereof by a bolt 53.

The operation of the hereinbefore described machine is as follows. The rolls are set angularly by loosening the clamping bolts 30a and I in the bases of the upper and lower yokes respectively, the yokes are swiveled to proper position and the clamping bolts tightened. When the rolls are properly set, they will provide a straight line contact for a rod or tube passing through the machine. The upper roll F3, Cl, F4 and C2 are set vertically by means of the adjusting wheels 26 adjacent to the top plate 5 of the frame, power rolls F3 and F4 being adjusted for the size of the work piece and being positioned in substantially the same horizontal plane. Bending idler rolls Cl and C2 are positioned in a horizontal plane or in separate horizontal planes below the plane of power rolls F3 and F4. Next the guide plates 48 are adjusted to the size of the work piece.

In operation, a rod or tube is fed through the bell mouth member 52 and is guided by the plates 48 into the front or input pair of power feeding rolls FI and F3. The angularity of these rolls feeds the work piece into the machine and their rotation causes the work piece to rotate as it progresses. As the work piece is fed into the machine it passes under the first bending or straightening idler roll Cl and into the second or output pair of power discharge rolls F2 and F4. The power rolls not only serve to move the work piece but also serve to size and polish it as it passes therebetween. The concave hyperboloidal surfaces form a straight line contact with the rod or tube and makes a path on the surface of a width equal to the length of the line contact.

The hyperboloids of revolution of the power rolls,

When the work piece is in contact with the two sets of power rolls, Fl and F3, and F2 and F4, respectively, the intermediate bending idler or straightening roll CI being positioned in a horizontal plane below the horizontal plane of upper power rolls F3 and F4,-exerts pressure downwardly on the work piece, thereby bending the work piece to complete the first straightening cycle. When the work piece contacts the second bending or straightening idler roll C2, this roll also bends it, completing the second cycle of the straightening operation. These idler rolls bend the Work piece a definite amount and as the work piece rotates as it is fed through the machine, all sides of the neutral axis of the work piece will be bent to cause the outer fibers of a section to be stressed beyond the elastic limit in order to establish a uniform fiber stress around the neutral axis of the work piece.

It is noted that the first cycle takes eflect immediately upon the work piece entering between the second pair of power rolls and the last cycle continues to work after the end of the work piece has passed through the first set of power rolls. Consequently, my machine works from end to end of the work piece.

The advantages of my machine are numerous. It will operate on work pieces of various diameters without changing rolls and" it is a simple matter to adjust it to the size of the work piece. It not only straightens rods but also sizes and polishes them. The top and bottom power applications are synchronized by the gearing and so keep the work piece in balance and permittin the straightening of comparatively thin walled tubes. Furthermore, the machine has two cycles with a minimum number of rolls.

Other modifications may be made and I do not. wish to be limited to the precise construction shown.

What I claim is:

l. A multiroll, multicycle rotary straightening machine comprising an input pair and an output pair of opposed rotary feed rolls having concave, hyperboloidal surfaces having substantially straight line contact with the workpiece, the axes of the rolls forming each of the opposed pairs lying on opposite sides of the work path and being transverse to one another, said output pair of feed rolls having their axes substantially parallel with those of said input feed rolls, respectively, a freely rotatable bending roll disposed between said pairs of feed rolls, a second or outboard bending roll on the leaving side of said output pair of feed rolls, said bending rolls being concave and substantially parallel to the feed rolls on the corresponding side and being arranged with their contact with the work closer to the center line of work travel than the corresponding contact of the corresponding roll of each pair of feed. rolls, the input pair of feed rolls, the first bending roll, the output pair of feed rolls and the second bending roll being consecutive in the order named, and means for driving each of said feed rolls in synchronism in the direction to advance the workpiece along the line of work travel and to rotate the workpiece in one direction.

2. A multiroll, multicycle rotary straightening machine comprising an input pair and an out- 7 respectively, a freely rotatable bending roll disposed between said pairs of feed rolls, a second or outboard bending roll on the leaving side of said output pair of feed rolls, said bending rolls being concave and substantially parallel to the feed rolls on the corresponding side and being arranged with their contact with the work closer to the center line of work travel than the corresponding contact of the corresponding roll of each pair of feed rolls, the input pair of feed rolls, the first bending roll, the output pair of feed rolls and the second bending roll being consecutive in the order named, means for driving each of said feed rolls in synchronism in the direction to advance the workpiece along the line of the work travel and to rotate the workpiece in one direction, the rolls forming each of said pairs respectively lying above and below the workpiece, a frame having a, pair of longitudinal members respectively lying above and below the rollers, substantially U-shaped yokes supporting each of said rollers, vertically disposed bearings rotatably supporting said yokes on said members for angular adjustment of said rollers.

WALTER SIEGERIST. 

